Ung: The best dishes I ate this month

By Elisa Ung

Record Columnist |

The Record

Smoked meat? Macaroni and cheese? Fiery lettuce wraps? June had all three covered.

jennifer brown/Special to The Record

The brontosaurus rib.

* The brontosaurus rib at the new Mighty Quinn's Barbecue in Clifton is intimidating in many ways: a smoky whole beef short rib that delivers a pound of meat on a Flintstone-like bone, for $23. Don't let any of that scare you away. It's the most unforgettable piece of barbecue I've eaten in North Jersey. 850 Route 3 west, Clifton, 973-777-8340; mightyquinnsbbq.com

TYSON TRISH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The "crabby mac."

* I'm getting tired of chefs throwing a few scraps of seafood into a heap of pasta and charging big bucks for macaroni and cheese. But the "crabby mac" at Novu in Wayne does it right: Chef-owner Tony Dumani is generous with jumbo lump crab in the $10 side dish. 1055 Hamburg Turnpike, 973-694-3500; novurestaurant.com

Courtney Armele/ Staff Photographer

Ssam bap jung sik.

* And I can't wait to return to Kaya Garden in Leonia for more of its signature ssam bap jung sik (stir-fried spicy pork in a bean sauce), a bountiful, beautiful version of the ubiquitous Asian lettuce wraps. You heap the spicy Korean pork into a variety of greens, and enjoy the spicy-crunchy dynamic. 450 Broad St., 201-461-7525.

Ung: The best dishes I ate this month

Smoked meat? Macaroni and cheese? Fiery lettuce wraps? June had all three covered.

* The brontosaurus rib at the new Mighty Quinn's Barbecue in Clifton is intimidating in many ways: a smoky whole beef short rib that delivers a pound of meat on a Flintstone-like bone, for $23. Don't let any of that scare you away. It's the most unforgettable piece of barbecue I've eaten in North Jersey. 850 Route 3 west, Clifton, 973-777-8340; mightyquinnsbbq.com

* I'm getting tired of chefs throwing a few scraps of seafood into a heap of pasta and charging big bucks for macaroni and cheese. But the "crabby mac" at Novu in Wayne does it right: Chef-owner Tony Dumani is generous with jumbo lump crab in the $10 side dish. 1055 Hamburg Turnpike, 973-694-3500; novurestaurant.com

* And I can't wait to return to Kaya Garden in Leonia for more of its signature ssam bap jung sik (stir-fried spicy pork in a bean sauce), a bountiful, beautiful version of the ubiquitous Asian lettuce wraps. You heap the spicy Korean pork into a variety of greens, and enjoy the spicy-crunchy dynamic. 450 Broad St., 201-461-7525.